Related:

TROY, Ill. (KMOV.com) -- A Troy woman was arrested Wednesday after she allegedly lied about having cancer in order to receive donations.

According to a press release, Melissa D. Barton, 25, was arrested for felony theft by deception after an investigation revealed Barton was receiving monetary donations after claiming she had cancer and her son had leukemia.

"I would never do that. The fundraisers that were made in my name were made by people that did not ask my permission," said Barton. " I had a scare last year in October ... and I kinda jumped to conclusions quickly."

Court documents show she is charged with theft over $500 because she was not honest when she asked a church for money.

Barton said she was having financial problems and asked the church for money on those grounds, not for cancer. She admits that she had a Facebook page that talks about her near cancer scare, but she said she has been locked out of that page.

Police said Barton also used the names Melissa Dawn Pruett Barton and Missy Barton Pruett. The Troy Police Department is asking anyone who believes they were deceived by Barton to call Detective Coyne at 618-667-6731.

Barton is being held at the Madison County Jail and her bail is set at $50,000.